diff --git a/lib/6to5/transformers/unicode-regex.js b/lib/6to5/transformers/unicode-regex.js
index 34f142c417..ac82f3eb3a 100644
--- a/lib/6to5/transformers/unicode-regex.js
+++ b/lib/6to5/transformers/unicode-regex.js
@@ -10,6 +10,5 @@ exports.Literal = function (node) {
   if (!_.contains(regex.flags, "u")) return;
   _.pull(flags, "u");
 
-  var pattern = rewritePattern(regex.pattern, regex.flags);
-  return b.literal(new RegExp(pattern, flags.join("")));
+  regex.pattern = rewritePattern(regex.pattern, regex.flags);
 };